We won, but in our room after, it wasn’t happy. We talked urgent and frank. The performance was far below what we expect, even with the three points. An own goal in the last minute got it for us against Wolves, who’s bottom.
I saw Dec go storming down the tunnel angry at the whistle. Even when we was celebrating, his frustration showed. And inside, I can tell you, he wasn’t alone in feeling that. Several of us said our piece. We was angry about how we played.
Our captain, Martin, he said his concerns too. Other senior guys also. It weren’t arguments, no. It was more like… everyone agreeing. We just didn’t reach our level. We let them score in the 90th minute, then got a lucky goal right after. That’s not us.
Mikel, he wasn’t impressed neither. He told us first, then the press. He said we had “horrible defensive habits.” That we were “totally passive” trying to defend our lead. He’s right. I knew the game wouldn’t be easy, but we made it harder with how we conceded. That’s not acceptable, he said.
So in the dressing room, it was disappointment. Outside, the fans was singing and cheering with relief. For them, a late winner is great. For us, it felt like a reminder we lost focus.
We’re top of the league. But lately, against Brentford, Villa, now Wolves, we haven’t felt our usual fluency. The reaction shows how committed we are. We want to be at our peak, every time.
We got two days off after. It’s rare in a schedule this demanding. A whole week without a midweek game since August. Rest and prepare for Everton.
Our standards here is higher than ever. A last-minute winner usually means big celebrations. We’ve had them before against big teams. But this time, the performance tempered any joy. It just didn’t feel right.
It shows a shift, I think. We’re a determined group. Being angry after a win is proof of that mentality, internally. The expectation isn’t just to win now. It’s to win well.
City is only two points behind. They’s gaining momentum. Over Christmas, we need to be at our absolute best. Against Wolves, we was far from our peak. Accepting that fact is maybe the first step to getting back there. We push for the crown.
You could see it in everyone’s eyes, really. Like a quiet understanding that we got away with one. Some of the lads just sat at their lockers, staring. It wasn’t a loud meeting, but the words that were said carried a real weight to them.
On the training ground this week, the focus is different. There’s a sharper edge. You can feel it in the drills, a kind of silent agreement that we need to correct things. It’s not about running more, it’s about thinking quicker. Mikel’s been showing us clips, not of Wolves, but of ourselves from earlier this season. The difference is clear.
He’s pointed out small things we’s doing wrong. Like our distances between the lines when we’s ahead, or a hesitation in the pass. It’s stuff that maybe fans don’t see, but it’s what makes us drop from our best level. The good thing is, nobody is making excuses. We all watches the same clips and knows.
It reminds me of how far we’ve come, honestly. Two seasons ago, a win like that might have felt like a great escape. We’d have been just happy for the points. Now, it feels like a warning. That’s progress, I suppose, even if it don’t feel great in the moment. The hunger is different now. It’s not just wanting to win. It’s needing to win *right*.
